Mysterious ‘Space Jellyfish’ Appears Over Orlando

On Tuesday morning, residents of Orlando who glanced up might have spotted what appeared to be a glowing alien jellyfish floating in the sky. This unusual sight was the result of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that took off from Cape Canaveral at 6:33 a.m. on October 13. The rocket was transporting over 6,300 pounds of supplies and scientific instruments to the International Space Station.

The phenomenon, referred to as a ‘space jellyfish,’ occurs when a rocket is launched just before dawn or just after dusk. While the ground remains shrouded in darkness, sunlight can illuminate the rocket’s exhaust at high altitudes, resulting in a glowing cloud with trailing wisps that resemble the tentacles of a jellyfish. This captivating display was visible throughout Central Florida and even reached as far as Georgia.